Wait on Asiad list continues, India misses crucial meeting

The long wait for government clearance of the country's contingent at the upcoming Asian Games continued today with the sports ministry yet to get directions from the Prime Minister's Office, leading to India missing out on the scheduled Delegates Registration Meeting in Incheon.
Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had on Thursday sought PMO decision on the issue of the size of Indian contingent for the September 19-October 4 Asian Games on after Indian Olympic Association sent a list of 935 members -- 662 athletes (373 men and 289 women) and 273 coach/officials.
The ministry officials and Sports Authority of India have already made the recommendation for the list to be pruned down to around 700, smaller than the contingent size of the 2010 Asian Games in China where India had sent 626 athletes and more than 200 officials.

Sports Authority of India Director General Jiji Thomson told PTI that the PMO is yet to get back to the sports ministry on the matter.
"We have not got any word from the PMO. The file is still there at the PMO. We will wait for tomorrow," Thomson said.
The delay in the announcement of Asian Games contingent meant that India could not turn up for the crucial Delegation Registration Meeting with the Incheon Games Organising Committee scheduled for today.
Without the DRM, the accreditations of the Indian contingent will not be validated and no athlete will be able to enter the Games Village. The Indian Olympic Association has requested the Incheon Games organisers to re-schedule the DRM on September 11.

"It was an embarrassment for India. The DRM between Indian officials and Incheon organising committee was to be held today but since there was no government clearance, no Indian official could be there in Incheon," IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said.